Rubber heel patching lift



Aug. 20, 1935. A. L. MURRAY 2,012,173

RUBBER HEEL PATCHING LIFT Filed Dec. 9, 1933 1/0 ll I5 I 4 "8 INVENTOR.HLBEKT l. MUKRH)? ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 20, 1935 .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RUBBER HEEL PATCHINGLIFT Albert L. Murray, Auburn, Ind.

Application December 9, 1933, Serial No.

Rama

Claims. (CI. 3635) 5 rounded upwardly. The present practice is to removethe old rubber heel and apply an entirely new heel, or in the case ofrepairing leather heels with leather, remove the two outermost lifts andthen apply new lifts thereto in the usual manner. In each instance,however, if the wear at the back in rounding the heel is of such anextreme character, it may be necessary to square-up the surface of theheel by the addition of a wedgeor equivalent insert. I

The present invention is directed to a heel lift of rubber that may beapplied to a worn rubber heel or to a worn leather heel and which can beapplied thereto so as to automatically compensate for the rounding wearthereof.

Inasmuch as a lift of this character is relatively thin compared to thestandard rubber heel but is a little more than the thickness of thestandard rubber lift that is approximately My in thickness, it is quiteapparent that in order to prevent drying out of the repairing rubberheel lift so that the rubber lift may be readily cemented to the wornheel, it may be highly desirable to protect the face of the lift that isto be cemented to the heel to prevent the loss of a tacky surface, if itis provided with a tacky surface in itsinitial manufacture and suchprotection is obtained by the useof a protecting covering. in the formof a holland sheet or a paper strip of an equivalent character.

In the formation of the lift, when paper of this character is used, itis. understood that the.

lift is made from a blank cut from sheet material of substantiallyuniform thickness as it comes from the calender rolls and these blanksare placed in molds to which has been applied the protective covering,such as hollancl 'and the like. Then when a paper covering is utilized,it is practically necessary that the paper all lie in one plane.Otherwise, due to the application of pressure and heat in the formationof the lift in the molding process, the paper will crack if it isdeformed from that predetermined plane.

The present invention, therefore, permits the formation of a repairingheel lift in a commercial production manner and that will permit oneface of the heel lift to be protected by a holland, and the like, untilthe purchaser or ultimate consumer desires to apply the lift to the wornheel. This the purchaser does by suitably roughening the surface of theworn heel, whether it be leather or rubber and applying rubber cmenttosaid roughened surface and also by applying rubber cement to the surfaceprotected by the holland whenever that is used, and the two rubbercemented surfaces are permittedto dry until they become quite tacky andare then united together under hand pressure, thus permanently securingthe lift to the worn-out heel.

The present invention also has another desirable advantage and that isthat by reason of its particular conformation, it is not necessary-thatthere be provided for each size of heel now used in the-shoe industry, arepairing heel lift of that size.

It has been determined that heels from 1 to 4 of the boys size may beaccommodated by a heel lift embodying the present invention that is justlarge enough for .the #1 size. In other words,

the range of accommodation is such that the #2, 3 and 4 sizes of liftsneed not be manufactured, but the #1 lift may be applied to heels ofthis size. Likewise, for use on young mens and mens shoes, the heel liftmade to be applied to the #5 size of shoe will also accommodate #6, 7,and 8. Also, the #9 size heel lift will accommodate the heels of shoes#10, 11 and 12, while the #13 size, for example, will accommodate notonly the #13 size shoe heel but also the #14 and 15 as well.

The aforesaid invention, therefore, reduces the number of sizes themanufacturer of heel lifts has to-make and the number of sizes that theretailer has to stock. The aforesaid advantage is obtained by reason ofthe so-called tapered edge of the heel.

Another advantage obtained commercially as a result of the form of thisheel lift, is that, as before stated, the lift is molded from a blank ofsubstantially uniform thickness that comes from the calender and byreason of the tapered edges on the completed lift and whenever desirableor necessary by reason of the central depression formed, the excessstock in the blank is caused to flow in the molding process so as to belocalized at a particular point in the completed heel the requirementthat an additional wedge or lift f wedge be employed is eliminated.

Another, and the chief advantage of the present invention by reason ofits form, is that when the lift is cemented to the heel, due to theparticular conformation or rather the two angles that form a ridge wherethe excess material is 2 collected, the ridge is so positioned withrelation to'the extreme rear edge that the lift, at that thus preventsthe formation of any gap between the lift and the heel, at its originalworn portion, whichis usually at the back of the heeL- The full natureof the invention will be'understood from. the accompanying drawing andthe following description and drawing.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a top plan view of the exposed or wearing faceof the repairing heel lift. U Fig. 2 isa longitudinal sectional view ofthe protected heel previous to its application for repair purposes.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the blank and protectorfrom which the protected heel lift is made.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a portion of a shoe having a wornheel with the repairing heel lift positioned adjacent thereto immediate-'ly previous to securing the two together.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the shoe heel and lift embodying theinvention in its secured position upon the worn heel.

. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 and of a modified form of heellift.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and of the modified form of theinvention shown in Fig. 6. In Fig. 3 of the drawing, l0 indicates ablank of the desired thickness and desired outline,'

which is herein shown with the holland 9, or the like, being appliedthereto. This blank is placed in the mold and subjected to heat andpressure which causes the rubber material to flow into the desiredconformation resulting in the heel lift shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. Insaid flgures, I l indicates a flat face that may or may not be providedwith a tacky surface and if it is provided with a tacky surface, thesame is usually covered or protected by a holland or the like 9. Theopposite face I2 is shown provided with a recess l3 that is herein showncircular in form, although it may be of any desired shape and saidrecess is provided .for two purposesone, the socalled suction effectwhen used on a heel for preventing slipping when the heel is applied toa wet or slick surface upon which the wearer of the shoe is standing orwalking, and second, for providing stock for the thickened portion ofthe lift.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, the forward edge of the heel is beveledas at H! and also the two opposite sides are beveled as at IS. The rearedge of the heel is also beveled as at l6 and the surplus material, ashereinbefore set forth, which is obtained by reason of the beveling andthe depression or recess l3, if utilized in the mold process, is causedto flow to the rear end of the heel lift, resulting in the enlargementl1 having the bevel face l6, before mentioned, which is contheenlargement [8 need not bewymmetrically arranged butcan be arranged uponone side or the other. In that event, two different lifts will berequired for the repair of a pair of 'shoes one a right hand lift andthe other a left hand As previously setfrorui. a heel lift of thischaracter has'the flat face H which preferably is of tacky character-andthat tackiness is preserved from the time-it leaves the manufactureruntil the heel lift is used by the purchaser by "theaddition of aholland or the like 9. As

previously set forth, also, when a paper protective covering, equivalentto a holland, is uti-' lized, it is quite apparent that in the molding--process that if the paper does not lie in a com 'mon plane, it willcrease, score or fracture by herein, is the angular relationship betweenthe beveling l6 and the face l8, resulting in the mergence thereof, asat l9. This positions the enlargement inwardly of the extreme back edgeof the lift and thereby leaves the extreme back edge of the liftrelatively flexible for the purpose previously set forth briefly, andnow set forth in detail.

In Fig. 4. it will be observed the heel lift when it has had its hollandremoved and the surface of the worn heel is cemented and the surface ofthe heel lift is cemented, and the two are placed together, that acertain gap 20 will exist between the heel lift and the heel 2| wornaway or rounded as at 22, said heel being a part of the represented bythe face' II, is suitably and adhesively secured to the exposed and wornface of the heel of the shoe. It has been determined that it is thisreduction as at 24 associated with the enlargement I! that permits aheel lift of this character to be satisfactorily applied to a worn androunded heel and capable of being secured adhesively thereto andretained by that cement union. It has been observed that without thereduction 24, the enlargementwould be so stiff or resistant to thisdeformation, resulting from the change of position, characterized byFigs. 4 and 5, that a cementunion would not hold the same duringsubsequent use.

With the present -invention, however, a cement union has been foundsufiicient and satisfactory for adhesively securing the entire heel liftthroughout its tacky surface to the surface of the worn heel. In otherwords, this conformation or arrangement permits of the flexing of therear portion of the heel lift and without any undue resistance thereto,so that the cement union can hold that portion of the lift in contactwith the worn portion of the heel.

. It has also been determined that when the heel has been repaired, asillustrated in Fig. 5, that the slight inward and forward inclination ofthe edge of the heel is not apparent to others when the shoe is worn andnaturally such difference has no structural disadvantage in the use ofthe shoe.

It has been determined the material utilized to form the heel lift maybe of relatively flexible as being of homogeneous character throughout,

that blank, however, may be made of two or more layers of materialhomogeneously secured together. J

In Figs. 6 and '7 there is illustrated a simplified form of theinvention and in said figures, H23 indicates a shoe having the heel I2iworn as'at I22. The heel lift has the flat face H that when firstpositioned adjacent the .worn heel leaves the gap I20 at the rounded orextremely worn portion. 1 The heel lift, in this form of the invention,hasa forward beveled face i Hi, the two beveled side .faces H5 and therearward beveled edge H6 and herein, the face H8 merging with thebeveled rear edge H6 as at H9, is shown continued from the back to thefront of the heel lift. If desired, this heel lift may be provided withthe central depression, as shown dotted in Fig. 6 as at H3.

While the invention has been set forth in detail herein before, it is tobe understood that the gist of'the invention consists in the commercialproduction of a heel lift for repairing worn heels that does not requirethe use of a wedge insert, or the like, at the extremely worn portionand which heel lift is so arranged that one face thereof lies insubstantially a single plane permitting the use'of a paper or hollandprotector, and which is capable of flexing adjacent the thickenedportion utilized for filling in the gap resulting from extreme localizedheel wear and without the introduction of undue resistance to suchflexing which would result in the heel lift being incapable of beingsecured to the heel through a cement union and retained in unitedrelation by such a union during the wearing of.

l. A cement-on heel lift suitable for repairpurposes, including a mainbody portion having a conventional heel outline and a substantiallyplane face of rubber which is receptive to.

rubber cement and for heel contact, said body portion upon the treadside and near the rear thereof and spaced from the end having athickened portion, the latter having a long bevel face directed towardthe plane face and to the rear of the lift and terminating substantiallyat the rear of the lift for the purpose set forth, the other edges ofthe body being beveled and terminating substantially at the plane facewith the greatest area of the lift coincident with the plane face.

2. A cement-on heel lift suitable for repair purposes, including a mainbodyportion having a conventional heel outline and a substantially planeface of rubber which is receptive to rubber cement and for heel contact,said body portion upon the treadside and'n'ear the rear.

thereof and spaced from the end having a thickened portion, the latterhaving a long bevel face directed toward the plane face and tothe rearof the lift'and terminating substantially at the rear of the lift for'the purpose set forth, said thickened portion having an oppositelydirected and inclined face, the other edges of the body being beveledand terminating substantially at the plane face with the greatest areaof the lift coincident with the plane face.

3. A cement-on heel lift suitable for repair purposes, including a mainbody portion having a conventional heel outline and a substantiallyplane face of rubber which is receptive to rubber cement and f0; heelcontact, said body portion upon the tread side and near the rear thereofand. spaced from the end having a thick- "ened portion, the latterhaving a long bevel face directed toward the plane face and to the rearof the lift and terminating substantially at the rear of the lift forthe purpose set forth, said thickened portion having an oppositelydirected and inclined face terminating an appreciable distance from thefr ont of the lift, the other edges of the body being beveled andterminating substantially at the plane face with the greatest area ofthe lift coincident with the plane face.

4. A relatively universally adaptable cementon heel lift structuresuitable for worn heel repair purposes, including a main body portionhaving a conventional heel outline and a substantially plane face oftacky rubber which is receptive to rubber cement and for heel contact,and a flat protective sheet on said face for tackiness preservationuntil heel application-said,

body portion, upon the tread side and near the rear end thereof, butspaced from the said end, having its thickest portion, the latter havinga relatively long but steep bevel face directed toward the plane faceand the rear end of the lift andterminating substantially at the rearend of the lift insuring relatively permanent cementitious union of theheel and lift throughout their registering area and atthe point ofgreatest wear and strain therein respectively.

5. A relatively universally adaptable cementon'heel lift structuresuitable for worn heel repair purposes, including a main body portionhaving a conventional heel outline and a substantially plane face oftackyrubber which is receptive to rubber cement and for heel'contact,and a flat protective sheet on said face for tackiness preservationuntil heel application, said body portion, upon the tread side and nearthe rear end thereof, but spaced from the said end, having its thickestportion, the latter having a relatively long but steep bevel facedirected toward the plane face and the rear end of the lift and liftinsuring relatively permanent cementitious union of the heel and liftthroughout their registering area and at the point of greatest wear aridstrain therein respectively, said thickened portion having an oppositelydirected and inclined face.

ALBERT L. MURRAY.

terminating substantially at the rear end of the

